Device for animating facial expression

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a device for animating facial expression. The device includes at least one resilient member and at least one actuator. The resilient member is regarded as a facial feature on a face, and the resilient member has a first end and a second end. The first end of the resilient member is rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face. The actuator is used for actuating the first end of the resilient member to rotate, so that the facial feature is capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the face, wherein the facial feature can be eyebrow, upper eyelid, lower eyelid, upper lip or lower lip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for animating facial expression and, more particularly, to a device capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on a face.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As technology advanced, human-like electronic device is getting more and more popular. How to vividly exhibit various expressions, such as smile, bend one's brows, and so on, is a significant study of the subject. As apparent from a review of prior art, there were several mechanisms for animating facial expression proposed, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,464, U.S. Publication No. 20040249510, JP Publication No. 2003230770, and so on. Since all of the aforesaid prior arts utilize complex mechanism to achieve the goal of animating facial expression, it will spend much time on assembly and the cost also gets higher correspondingly. Furthermore, regarding U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,464 and U.S. Publication No. 20040249510, not only the mechanism is complex, but also the facial expression is expressionless.

Therefore, the scope of the invention is to provide a device for animating facial expression to solve the aforesaid problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A scope of the invention is to provide a device for animating facial expression. The device utilizes at least one resilient member and at least one actuator to exhibit various facial expressions on a face. The mechanism of the invention can be easily implemented, and the cost can be reduced correspondingly.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device for animating facial expression comprises at least one resilient member and at least one actuator. The resilient member is regarded as a facial feature on a face, and the resilient member has a first end and a second end. The first end of the resilient member is rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face. The actuator is used for actuating the first end of the resilient member to rotate and/or move, so that the facial feature is capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the face. In this embodiment, the facial feature can be eyebrow, upper eyelid, lower eyelid, upper lip or lower lip.

Therefore, according to the device of the invention, the resilient member deforms while the actuator actuates the first end of the resilient member to rotate. Consequently, various facial expressions can be exhibited on the face. The mechanism of the invention can be easily implemented, and the cost can be reduced correspondingly.

The advantage and spirit of the invention may be understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a human-like face.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device for animating facial expression according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the eyebrows shown in FIG. 1 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device for animating facial expression according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device for animating facial expression according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the eyes shown in FIG. 1 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device for animating facial expression according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device for animating facial expression according to the fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the mouth shown in FIG. 1 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device for animating facial expression according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the mouth shown in FIG. 10 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of the invention is used for actuating a facial feature (e.g. eyebrow, eye, or mouth) on a face to exhibit various facial expressions. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a human-like face 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the human-like face 1 thereon has two eyebrows 10 a, 10 b, two eyes 20 a, 20 b, a mouth 30, and a skin 40. To achieve the aforesaid scopes of the invention, there are several embodiments depicted in the following.

First Preferred Embodiment

In this embodiment, the device of the invention is used for actuating the eyebrows 10 a, 10 b on the human-like face 1. Since the eyebrows 10 a, 10 b are actuated in the same manner, only the principle of actuating the eyebrow 10 a is depicted in the following.

Please refer to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device 12 a for animating facial expression according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the device 12 a shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the eyebrows 10 a, 10 b shown in FIG. 1 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face 1.

In this embodiment, the device 12 a comprises a first resilient member 120, a first actuator 122, and a first resilient enclosure 124. The first resilient enclosure 124 covers the first resilient member 120 to exhibit a first facial feature (i.e. the eyebrow 10 a) on the human-like face 1. The first resilient member 120 has a first end 120 a and a second end 120 b. As shown in FIG. 3, the first end 120 a of the first resilient member 120 is pivotally connected to the first actuator 122. The second end 120 b of the first resilient member 120 is rotatably fixed to the inner surface of the skin 40 of the human-like face 1. The first actuator 122 is used for actuating the first end 120 a of the first resilient member 120 to rotate, so that the first facial feature (i.e. the eyebrow 10 a) is capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the human-like face 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if the first actuator 122 actuates the first end 120 a of the first resilient member 120 to rotate toward the direction of the arrow a1, the eyebrow 10 a will exhibit the facial expression (arch-shaped) on the human-like face 1 as shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, the eyebrow 10 b can also exhibit the facial expression (arch-shaped) on the human-like face 1 as shown in FIG. 4.

In this embodiment, the first resilient member 120 can be a spring or the like, and the first actuator 122 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the first end 120 a of the first resilient member 120.

In this embodiment, the skin 40 of the human-like face 1 can be a resilient skin, and the first resilient member 120 is connected to the resilient skin 40. Accordingly, the resilient skin 40 will be actuated by the first actuator 122 together with the first resilient member 120, so as to exhibit more vivid facial expressions.

In another embodiment, the facial expression shown in FIG. 4 also can be exhibited by connecting the first resilient member 120 to the back of the skin 40 without the first resilient enclosure 124.

Second Preferred Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device 12 a′ for animating facial expression according to the second embodiment of the invention. The main difference between the device 12 a′ and the device 12 a is that the device 12 a′ further comprises a second actuator 126. The second end 120 b of the first resilient member 120 is pivotally connected to the second actuator 126. The second actuator 126 cooperates with the first actuator 122 to actuate the second end 120 b of the first resilient member 120 to rotate, so that the first facial feature (i.e. the eyebrow 10 a) is capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the human-like face 1. The principle of the device 12 a′ shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the device 12 a shown in FIG. 3, and the related description does not be mentioned here again.

In this embodiment, the second actuator 126 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the second end 120 b of the first resilient member 120.

Third Preferred Embodiment

In this embodiment, the device of the invention is used for actuating the eyes 20 a, 20 b on the human-like face 1. Since the eyes 20 a, 20 b are actuated in the same manner, only the principle of actuating the eye 20 a is depicted in the following. As shown in FIG. 1, the eye 20 a comprises an upper eyelid 200 and a lower eyelid 202.

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device 22 a for animating facial expression according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the eyes 20 a, 20 b shown in FIG. 1 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face 1. In this embodiment, the device 22 a comprises a first resilient member 220, a first actuator 222, a first resilient enclosure 224, a second resilient member 226, a third actuator 228, and a second resilient enclosure 230. The first resilient enclosure 224 covers the first resilient member 220 to exhibit a first facial feature (i.e. the upper eyelid 200 of the eye 20 a) on the human-like face 1. The second resilient enclosure 230 covers the second resilient member 226 to exhibit a second facial feature (i.e. the lower eyelid 202 of the eye 20 a) on the human-like face 1. The first resilient member 220 has a first end 220 a and a second end 220 b. The second resilient member 226 has a third end 226 a and a fourth end 226 b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first end 220 a of the first resilient member 220 is pivotally connected to the first actuator 222. The second end 220 b of the first resilient member 220 is rotatably fixed to the inner surface of the skin 40 of the human-like face 1. The third end 226 a of the second resilient member 226 is pivotally connected to the third actuator 228. The fourth end 226 b of the second resilient member 226 is rotatably fixed to the inner surface of the skin 40 of the human-like face 1. The first actuator 222 is used for actuating the first end 220 a of the first resilient member 220 to rotate, and the third actuator 228 is used for actuating the third end 226 a of the second resilient member 226 to rotate, so that the first facial feature (i.e. the eyelid 200 of the eye 20 a) and the second facial feature (i.e. the eyelid 202 of the eye 20 a) are capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the human-like face 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the first actuator 222 actuates the first end 220 a of the first resilient member 220 to rotate toward the direction of the arrow a2, and the third actuator 228 actuates the third end 226 a of the second resilient member 226 to rotate toward the direction of the arrow a3, the upper eyelid 200 and the lower eyelid 202 of the eye 20 a will exhibit the facial expression (opened eye 20 a) on the human-like face 1 as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, the eye 20 b can also exhibit the facial expression (opened eye 20 b) on the human-like face 1 as shown in FIG. 7.

In this embodiment, the first resilient member 220 or the second resilient member 226 can be a spring or the like. The first actuator 222 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the first end 220 a of the first resilient member 220, and the third actuator 228 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the third end 226 a of the second resilient member 226.

In this embodiment, the skin 40 of the human-like face 1 can be a resilient skin, and the first and second resilient members 220, 226 are respectively connected to the resilient skin 40. Accordingly, the resilient skin 40 will be actuated by the first and third actuators 222, 228 together with the first and second resilient members 220, 226, so as to exhibit more vivid facial expressions.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device 22 a′ for animating facial expression according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. The main difference between the device 22 a′ and the device 22 a is that the device 22 a′ replaces the first and third actuators 222, 228 by one actuator 232, so as to actuate the first and second resilient members 220, 226 at the same time. The principle of the device 22 a′ shown in FIG. 8 is the same as the device 22 a shown in FIG. 6, and the related description does not be mentioned here again.

Fifth Preferred Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device 22 a″ for animating facial expression according to the fifth embodiment of the invention. The main difference between the device 22 a″ and the device 22 a is that the device 22 a″ further comprises a second actuator 234 and a fourth actuator 236. The second end 220 b of the first resilient member 220 is pivotally connected to the second actuator 234, and the fourth end 226 b of the second resilient member 226 is pivotally connected to the fourth actuator 236. The second actuator 234 cooperates with the first actuator 222 to actuate the second end 220 b of the first resilient member 220 to rotate, and the fourth actuator 236 cooperates with the third actuator 228 to actuate the fourth end 226 b of the second resilient member 226 to rotate, so that the first facial feature (i.e. the upper eyelid 200 of the eye 20 a) and the second facial feature (i.e. the lower eyelid 202 of the eye 20 a) are capable of exhibiting various facial expressions on the human-like face 1. The principle of the device 22 a″ shown in FIG. 9 is the same as the device 22 a shown in FIG. 6, and the related description does not be mentioned here again.

In this embodiment, the second actuator 234 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the second end 220 b of the first resilient member 220, and the fourth actuator 236 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the fourth end 226 b of the second resilient member 226.

In this embodiment, the second and fourth actuators 234, 236 also can be replaced by a single actuator, and it depends on practical applications.

Six Preferred Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the mouth 30 shown in FIG. 1 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the mouth 30 includes an upper lip 300 and a lower lip 302. In this embodiment, the device of the invention for actuating the mouth 30 on the human-like face 1 is the same as the foresaid third embodiment, and the related description does not be mentioned here again. As shown in FIG. 10, when the device of the invention actuates the upper lip 300 and the lower lip 302 to rotate respectively, the mouth 30 will be opened to exhibit various facial expressions.

Seventh Preferred Embodiment

Please refer to FIGS. 6 and 10-12. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a device 32 for animating facial expression according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the mouth 30 shown in FIG. 10 exhibits facial expression on the human-like face 1. The main difference between the device 32 and the device 22 a is that the device 32 further comprises a fifth actuator 320, a first linkage set 322, and a second linkage set 324. The first linkage set 322 comprises a first long rod 322 a and a first short rod 322 b, and the second linkage set 324 comprises a second long rod 324 a and a second short rod 324 b. As shown in FIG. 11, the first long rod 322 a is pivotally connected to the second long rod 324 a by a hinge 340 a, the first long rod 322 a is pivotally connected to the first short rod 322 b by a hinge 340 b, and the second long rod 324 a is pivotally connected to the second short rod 324 b by a hinge 340 c. The first and second short rods 322 b, 324 b are respectively connected to a turntable 3200 attached on the fifth actuator 320.

As shown in FIG. 11, the fifth actuator 320 is connected to the first and third actuators 222, 228 via the first linkage set 322 and is connected to the second and fourth actuators 234, 236 via the second linkage set 324. When the fifth actuator 320 actuates the turntable 3200 to rotate, the first and second short rods 322 b, 324 b respectively drive the first and second long rods 322 a, 324 a to open or close, so as to adjust the lengths of the first and second resilient members 220, 226. Accordingly, the second facial feature (i.e. the lower lip 302) can cooperate with the first facial feature (i.e. the upper lip 300) to exhibit the facial expression on the human-like face 1 as shown in FIG. 12. The principle of the device 32 shown in FIG. 11 is the same as the device 22 a shown in FIG. 6, and the related description does not be mentioned here again.

In this embodiment, the fifth actuator 320 comprises a motor (not shown) for actuating the first linkage set 322 and the second linkage set 324.

In this embodiment, the first and third actuators 222, 228 can be replaced by a single actuator, and/or the second and fourth actuators 234, 236 also can be replaced by a single actuator. It depends on practical applications.

Compared to the prior art, according to the device of the invention, when the actuator actuates the first end of the resilient member to rotate, the resilient member will deform correspondingly. Consequently, various facial expressions can be exhibited on the face. Under different applications, the resilient member of the invention can be decorated as eyebrow, eye, mouth, and so on. Furthermore, the resilient member can cooperate with the resilient skin to exhibit more vivid facial expression. The mechanism of the invention can be easily implemented, and the cost can be reduced correspondingly.

With the example and explanations above, the features and spirits of the invention will be hopefully well described. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

1. A device for animating facial expression, comprising: a first resilient member for driving a first facial feature on a face, the first resilient member having a first end, the first end being rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face; and a first actuator for actuating the first end of the first resilient member to rotate and/or move, so that the first facial feature on the face is driven to deform by the first resilient member.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first resilient enclosure for covering the first resilient member to exhibit the first facial feature.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first resilient member is a spring.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first facial feature is one selected from a group consisting of: eyebrow, upper eyelid, lower eyelid, upper lip, and lower lip.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein there is a resilient skin on the face, and the first resilient member is connected to a position of the resilient skin corresponding to the first facial feature.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first resilient member has a second end rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face and the device further comprises a second actuator for actuating the second end of the first resilient member to rotate and/or move.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first actuator further comprises a first linkage set, and the second actuator further comprises a second linkage set, the first linkage set comprises a first long rod and a first short rod, the second linkage set comprises a second long rod and a second short rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the second long rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the first short rod, and the second long rod is pivotally connected to the second short rod.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second short rods are respectively connected to a turntable, when the turntable rotates, the first and second short rods respectively drives the first and second long rods to open or close, so as to adjust a length of the first resilient member.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a second resilient member, regarded as a second facial feature on the face, having a third end, the third end being rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face; and a third actuator for actuating the third end of the second resilient member to rotate and/or move.
 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a second resilient enclosure for covering the second resilient member to exhibit the second facial feature.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the second resilient member is a spring.
 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the first facial feature is an upper eyelid, and the second facial feature is a lower eyelid.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the first facial feature is an upper lip, and the second facial feature is a lower lip.
 14. The device of claim 9, wherein the third actuator and the first actuator are integrated into one actuator.
 15. The device of claim 9, wherein there is a resilient skin on the face, and the first and second resilient members are respectively connected to positions of the resilient skin corresponding to the first and second facial features, such that the resilient skin is actuated by the first and third actuators, together with the first and second resilient members.
 16. The device of claim 9, wherein the first resilient member has a second end rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face and the device further comprises a second actuator for actuating the second end of the first resilient member to rotate and/or move.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the second resilient member has a fourth end rotatably and/or movably attached onto the face and the device further comprises a fourth actuator for actuating the fourth end of the second resilient member to rotate and/or move.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the fourth actuator and the second actuator are integrated into one actuator.
 19. The device of claim 17, wherein the first actuator further comprises a first linkage set, and the second actuator further comprises a second linkage set, the first linkage set comprises a first long rod and a first short rod, the second linkage set comprises a second long rod and a second short rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the second long rod, the first long rod is pivotally connected to the first short rod, and the second long rod is pivotally connected to the second short rod.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first and second short rods are respectively connected to a turntable, when the turntable rotates, the first and second short rods respectively drives the first and second long rods to open or close, so as to adjust lengths of the first and second resilient members. 